Problem

Energy Consumption

Washers only consume a high volume of energy if warm or hot water is used.  Cold water often washes just as effectively as hot or warm; washing with cold water makes your washing machine responsible for only 0.9% of your household energy consumption.  If you flip the switch to hot or warm, you will spike the use to 2.6% of your household energy consumption.  Purchasing an Energy Star washer will save on this significantly. 

Water Consumption

One American family uses 16,000 gallons of water a year in their washer.  With just over 80 million washers installed in the US alone, that is 1, 280, 000, 000, 000 gallons of water.  The number is almost too large to believe; and it doesn’t even include commercial washers.  Controlling the amount of water that your washing machine uses is definitely key to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Solution

Go Green Living Tips

Running On Empty
Got a stained item that you want to get the stain out of right away?  Give it a sponge bath in your sink with a bit of baking soda to get the stain out rather than running your washing machine for one clothing item.  If you don’t have a newer machine that adjusts itself to load size, baking soda and water will do a good enough job of making sure that the stain doesn’t set. 

Cold is Better
Up to 90% of the energy expended by your washing machine is spent on heating the water for the wash.  Most clothes don’t need a hot or even a warm water rinse; with new detergents designed for cold water washing, you don’t even need to turn on the hot. 

Activate High Speed Spin Option
This reduces the amount of time that your clothes need to spend in the dryer, thus saving more energy overall. 

Open the Door
Keep the door open after use to keep moisture from accumulating in the door seal – you can just leave the door open permanently if you like.

HE Detergent
You should use high efficiency detergent (detergent with the HE label) for best results.  Regular detergent will be too sudsy and will cause problems with the washing machine.  Also check out the green laundry detergent article on this site for friendlier detergent tips on how to go green with your detergent as well as your washer.

Super Green Me Tips

Front Load Washing Machine More Efficient
Front loading washing machines use less water, less detergent, and are generally more energy efficient than their top loading cousins.  They are also easier on clothes than top loaders.  Keep in mind that replacing your washer is only viable if you are passing it on to someone who needs it; older top-loading washers were manufactured to last longer and really should be used until their life expectancy runs out. 

Energy Star Washer More Efficient
Energy Star washing machines generally save 100.00 per year over a conventional washer, and they save more water as well.

Effectiveness / Result

Clean clothes, a reduced energy bill, and conserved water. 

The Facts

US Statistics, Per Capita Water Use and Indoor Water Use

• Avg. Gallons Per Capita Per Day: 15
• Avg. Litres Per Capita Per Day: 56.8
• Indoor Water Use Percent, Washing Machine: 25.1%
  

Cost to use washing machine - energy

Mansfield, MA Energy Dept.

Savings Per Year With Energy Star rated Washer
If you decide to replace your washer, you can save roughly 100.00 per year if you purchase an Energy Star rated model. 

High Efficiency Vs. Old Washers – energy use
33 to 50 -- percentage reduction in energy use by high-efficiency washing machines compared to conventional washers

How Much Water is Used By A Conventional Washer
40 gallons of water used per full load of clothing in a conventional washer

Energy Star Rated Washer Water Use
18 to 25 -- gallons of water used per full load of clothing in a washer certified by Energy Star, a U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy program

Water Used Per Year
16,000 -- annual gallons of water used for clothes washing by a typical American household

Water Savings Per Year
7,000 -- gallons of water saved annually by using an Energy Star washing machine compared to a conventional washer

References

• Facts source: http://www.swivel.com/data_columns/spreadsheet/3461466

Notes